NEWS: Bustang adds second CB route, A9
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CBMR lift workers consider a strike Negotiations this week went well, union says Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
Vail Resorts faces the possibility of another labor strike after settling with ski patrollers in Park City, Utah earlier this month — this time, from a group of employees at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). The Crested Butte Lift Maintenance Union, composed of 12 lift maintenance technicians, Strike A6
Nathan Rodekuhr, Chris Hebert, Rob Alexander and Timothy Sisk, all current or former employees of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, picketed at the Crested Butte 4-Way on the morning of Jan. 24. The group braved the cold to show solidarity with the Crested Butte Lift Maintenance Union, who are in contract negotiations with Vail Resorts. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Flight, bus service School district TODAY in valley continue responds to anonymous letter to expand INSIDE
NEWS: Kattnig faces 10 counts of sex assault, A3
COMMUNITY: Fat Tire treadmarks lead home, B1
SPORTS: GHS girls basketball wins three in a row, B4
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Ackowledges ‘improper’ disposal of vehicles; policy change Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
The Gunnison Watershed School District has asserted that its employees did not embezzle money from the district or violate its own policies, in response to an anonymous writer who sent letters across the community alleging various crimes had been committed.
The 23-page letter, which the author did not sign, accused Transportation Director Paul Morgan of embezzling money from taxpayers through improper disposal of district vehicles, and violating other board policies concerning accounting and inventory management. The district identified Morgan in a formal response to the school board. The anonymous letter, sent to school board members and administrators, political leaders within the community and both newspapers, also accused Superintendent Leslie Nichols and Finance Director Tia Mills of allowing these issues to persist. In the district’s response, Letter A11
for the first time. This Board discusses sons, February, residents will also gain access to Bustang service ‘off-kilter’ twice daily to Denver. Bustang operated by the Colorado relationship with isDepartment of Transportation (CDOT). Its “Outrider” bus serVail Resorts Bella Biondini Times Editor
A d d i t i o n a l f l i g h t s f ro m United Airlines and a seconddaily bus route to Denver means residents will have more options when they make travel plans this year. If the airlines stick to their plans, the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) will offer at least two flights a day out of the valley year-round, even during the shoulder sea-
vice moves passengers across the Western Slope with routes that run between the mountain towns of Crested Butte, Telluride and Durango. While the Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) is subsidizing the extra Bustang service with the help of Chaffee County, the added flights are the result of a growing passenger base. Keeping the boosted service in the spring and fall when the flow of tourists slows down will depend on full airRTA briefs A12